It's now or never
Don't be so tight
Kiss the ball my darlins
Be fine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late
It's now or never
A win can't wait

It's an utter disgrace upon MLB that that game was played last night. What was it? The Dodgers are more important to the playoffs on TV? For shame.

More on that "The league office, it was said, had even decided to waive its 1 a.m. deadline for starting a game". How could they possible rationalize this? The Dodgers up 1.5 going into the weekend would have been a pretty good lead. They should have played out the weekend, and given the Phillies the best competitive chance. As it was, they made so that they would have to play three games in under 40 hours with a change in venue involving an early morning flight in between. This is ridiculous.

Well, Moyer's at least in a good FB pitcher's park. They should win this. The Dodgers need to lose tonight, though. You'd can't expect to tie being 2 back with 2 to play.

As for the LA conspiracy theories, well, sure. But MLB didn't take Lieber out for Fultz. MLB didn't throw the pitch Schneider wacked. MLB didn't do a hop-step to 1B like Lieber did on the ground ball to load the bases. MLB didn't blow the lead to the Astros Monday... To be lucky is to some extent to be good in the first place, and the Phils have simply not been that good since Monday around 9pm.

Watch--they'll win two, the Dodgers will lose two... and then Meathead will lose on Sunday while the Dodgers get a walk-off win.

I'm not actually talking about what happened last night. My point is that playing last night at all makes them less competitive in the remaining three games; especially in the next two (a night game the day they arrive, followed by a relatively early day game). Additionally, playing last night would only have mattered if the Dodgers faltered over the weekend. If both teams had swept, the lead would have held and the game unnecessary.

Last night was surreal; a critical game played in front of a few hundred people. And now they have to play again tonight after travelling

But I'm not whining, the Phils had their opportunities and didn't take advantage. It was fun while it lasted.

I'm determined to watch some playoff baseball this year, for the first time in years. Any suggestions on which team to adopt? As a Philadelphian, my criteria are that A) they not be from NY B) they're "overachieving" and "rough around the edges" and C) they are ultimately doomed to fail.

That's easy: the A's.

(Smacks forehead) Of course! Besides they're really a Philadelphia team, anyway.

Any opinions on the Phils off-season strategy? Just a few weeks ago I was saying their most pressing need was for a more reliable leadoff hitter, but it's obvious that they need somebody to hit behind Howard even more. I would actually be ok with them keeping the rotation intact, but I've lost faith in Gordon. They don't seem to have much in terms of trade bait, so they'd have look at free agents or hope somebody's trying to dump salary.

I'd just hate to see them waste the prime years of Howard, Utley and Rollins, but the cynic in me says that management is counting on doing just that (marketing the stars and keeping the payroll as low as possible).

Last night was surreal; a critical game played in front of a few hundred people.

I was one of them, and the field was in good shape, the weather was fine.

How could they possible rationalize this?

So you would rather have them play in Florida, then fly back to Washington to play on Monday Afternoon, then fly back across the country to LA to play an afternoon game, then drive down to Sand Diego? 4 games in 4 cities in 4 days is more preferable to a 4 hour rain delay?

I thought the game started at 11:30 EDT.

There's really no good solution there. Might as well have played last night/this morning. Maybe they could have sent Moyer ahead so at least he would get his rest.

It did start at 11:30, 11:33 I think, the last pitch was at 2:11 AM

a 4 hour rain delay

I love mischaracterized arguments.

Starting the game at 23:30, then requiring them to travel to Florida to play later that night (the same day the game would end), a game which itself was followed by a day game at 1:30 PM, in South Florida (here's the forcast), was the problem. They would have had to make up the one game difference for the Thursday game to even be relevant.

Yes, I would love to have been able to maximise that chance. Then they would fly to Washington to play the rubber game. Assuming they were tied with the Dodgers at that point, they would take a train, or bus to Philadelphia to play there. If they won that, I would think they would be, as would I, happy to board the flight to SD.

A playoff game with LA would be held in Philly, FWIW.

the cynic in me says that management is counting on doing just that (marketing the stars and keeping the payroll as low as possible)

This isn't cynicism it's the Giles/Phillies marketing strategy, as Paul Hagen outlined earlier this year.

They need a righthanded bat. Maybe Burrell's wheels and wrist magically heal.

While I fume about the past should have been different, I might as well wish that things that won't happen will: Aramis Ramirez at third, Schmidt as another pitcher, etc. Oh the things that will be!

I figure they'll sign Juan Pierre and Roberto Hernandez, and trade some crap for Paul Byrd.

If they sign Pierre, where does Rowand play? Victorino?

dear god not Pierre. i will have to burn down CBP. i loathe the baseball stylings of mr. juan piere. let him and dusty go over a cliff together.

i will have to burn down CBP.

As I said in another thread: I'll bring the gas.

I'm OK with a Victorino/Rowand platoon in CF and Ruiz/Coste at catcher. I guess I can stomach another season of Burrell (since it appears I have to), as long as he bats no higher than 6th. They need to upgrade RF and 3B. One of these guys should be a high OBP type (to hit 1 or 2), the other is your #5.

Of course they can use pitching, everybody can, but if it comes down to somebody like Schmidt or Ramirez, I'd take Ramirez.

Red-eye lineups:

PHI
1. J Rollins, SS .279 25 82 36
2. S Victorino, CF .281 6 43 4
3. C Utley, 2B .311 32 101 15
4. R Howard, 1B .314 58 146 0
5. P Burrell, LF .253 27 91 0
6. D Dellucci, RF .290 13 38 1
7. C Coste, C .326 7 30 0
8. A Nunez, 3B .210 2 29 1
9. J Moyer, P .000 0 0 0

FLA
1. H Ramirez, SS .292 17 59 51
2. D Uggla, 2B .282 26 89 6
3. M Cabrera, 3B .340 25 112 9
4. J Willingham, LF .277 25 73 2
5. W Helms, 1B .326 10 47 0
6. C Ross, RF .219 11 37 0
7. A Amezaga, CF .262 3 19 19
8. M Treanor, C .223 2 13 0
9. B Moehler, P .067 0 2 0

A Seattle fan favorite's final game?

I think Moyer can return next year if he wants to. I hope he does. I admire his approach; just throw strikes and trust your defense. Plus he works quickly.

Marlins TV again. I wonder when the Maroone Call to the Bullpen will be made and we will hear their brilliant homage to Ray Parker Jr.

Pat Burrell must not be commando tonight!

It was a local scandal among Mariner-fan statheads when Moyer negotiated his own fat 3-year contract after 2002. Everyone assumed he was done at age 39 and would drag the team down like a lead weight.... but he obviously wasn't and he didn't.

God damn! 7-1!

10-1! I haven't seen a massacre this bad in south Florida since ValuJet!

Where was this last night?

Well at least the pressure will be on LA.